Hearing Tests
Hearing impairment affects more than just your ability to hear, it can affect your life!
Denver Audiology emphasizes the significant impact of hearing loss on your overall well-being. Getting an accurate and timely hearing test is crucial to kick-starting your treatment plan and addressing the issue promptly. We believe that the hearing evaluation is just the first step in renewing your hearing ability and empowering you to live your life to the fullest. By undergoing a comprehensive hearing evaluation, we can tailor a personalized treatment plan that caters to your specific needs, enabling you to hear your best and live life on your terms.
Step One: Meet Our Staff
During the interview process, we aim to assess the extent of your hearing impairment and identify areas requiring further attention.
To help us in this process, we may ask you questions such as:
- Has anyone in your family had hearing problems?
- Have you experienced any illnesses or injuries that could have affected your hearing?
- Have you taken any medications that may have contributed to hearing impairment?
- Have you been exposed to loud noises while participating in leisure activities or in your workplace?
Step Two: Hearing Examination
We use a special instrument called an otoscope or video otoscope to inspect your outer ear, allowing our hearing care providers to take a close look inside your ear and determine whether the hearing difficulty you are experiencing could be caused by an obstruction or damage to the ear canal or eardrum.
Step Three: Make A Plan
To determine the nature of your hearing loss, our hearing care providers may conduct various hearing tests, including:
- Hearing screening to measure your hearing at four frequencies at 25 decibels each
- Speech assessment to measure how well you hear and understand ordinary conversation at different volumes
- Middle-ear evaluation to measure how your eardrum and hearing react to varying degrees of air pressure
After the tests, your results will be documented on an audiogram, which maps out the type, degree, and configuration of your hearing loss. The audiogram displays your hearing loss by frequency, measured in hertz (Hz), and the loudness or intensity measured in decibels (dB). With this information, we can help determine whether you have trouble hearing low or high pitches and develop a treatment plan accordingly.
Step Four: Take The Next Steps
At our practice, we understand that everyone’s hearing loss and lifestyle needs are unique. That’s why we offer a personalized approach to hearing aid selection. Our team will work closely with you to determine the best hearing aid technology to meet your specific needs. Hearing aids typically consist of a microphone, amplifier, receiver, and processor. We use advanced software and hardware to ensure your hearing aids are optimized for your hearing loss and lifestyle. Our goal is to provide you with the most effective and comfortable hearing aids possible, allowing you to hear your best and improve your overall quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upon leaving the hospital, newborns are administered an otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test to determine the presence of any hearing impairment. During this test, an earphone and microphone are placed in the ear while the baby is sleeping, sounds are played, and their response is measured. If the newborn does not have a hearing impairment, an echo is reflected back into the ear canal and measured by the microphone. However, if the baby has a hearing loss, no echo can be measured during the OAE test. Typically, this test is conducted twice. To learn more about hearing impairment and preventive measures for all ages, please refer to our section on child hearing loss.
Approximately 20 minutes.
The recommended frequency for a hearing test can vary depending on factors such as age and lifestyle. Generally, we advise that individuals have a hearing test at least once a year, even if there are no apparent signs of hearing loss, especially if you are frequently exposed to noise through work or leisure activities. However, if you are experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, we recommend that you schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible.
